May Book Reviews

I was on vacation in May, so my reading suffered a bit as a result. I read a total of 11 books, 9 of which I will describe here. I began the month with a few books with heavier themes but later embraced books with a brighter focus, a trend which I think will continue for the next couple of months. There is something about summer that makes me want to immerse myself in happier themes and lighter topics. The best news for all of you who follow me, is that I think these books are going to really appeal to many of you! Plus, a number of these books are free on Kindle Unlimited right now.

The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton was a Book of the Month selection from 2022. I had put off picking it up because of its dystopian setting and its "climate fiction" genre. Climate fiction is a genre that typically is set in the near future in a world that has been ruined by climate disasters that we inflicted on our planet. I know. Sounds heavy, right? This book surprised me by how much I liked it. Our main character is Wanda, a child of 10 or so who lives in the former state of Florida, which is rapidly being swallowed up by the ocean. I got "Where the Crawdads Sing" vibes from the book, in that our heroine is a plucky youngster who manages to survive in the swamps on her own for years. We follow Wanda from childhood to adulthood as she adapts to the changing landscape, ultimately finding community with other survivors such as herself. This was a book that was beautifully written and ultimately hopeful. 5 stars *Free on Kindle Unlimited

Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler is a book that may be hard to sell. It is what I would call an "anti-romance". Our main character, Adelaide, is a 26-year-old American living a carefree life in London.  She thoroughly enjoys her life and friendships, but she desires a relationship above all. She thinks she has hit the jackpot when she meets Rory Hughes, her "Prince Charming". She throws herself into the role of being the perfect girlfriend but is met with a lukewarm response from Rory. It is clear to us, the reader, that Rory is not a good guy. He doesn't return her texts, ghosts her for days after their dates, and keeps mentioning his ex-girlfriend as a comparison. This book may appeal to any woman who has found herself in a relationship where her feelings have not been reciprocated. It is hard to read and in times frustrating that Adelaide is so blind to Rory's faults. Ultimately she is supported by her strong female friendships and finds her way out of this emotionally abusive relationship. I was engrossed by the story, but know this one will not be for everyone. 4 stars. *Free on Kindle Unlimited

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters was a book I thoroughly enjoyed. Just look at that cover. I admit that was what drew me to the book in the first place, but the content did not disappoint. The Berry Pickers is a story about the Mi'kmaq tribe of Nova Scotia and the loss of a little girl named Ruthie. In the 1960s, the Mi'kmaqs traveled down to Maine in the summers to pick blueberries. One day when Ruthie and her older brother Joe are playing in the forest near their family's camp, four-year-old Ruthie vanishes without a trace. The family is devastated and finds themselves largely on their own when searching for her. The local authorities do not seem particularly concerned about assisting them in finding their missing child. As the years go by, the story turns to another young girl named Norma, who is growing up in Maine. She is the child of a strangely distant father and an obsessively overprotective mother. The mystery of what these two girls have in common continues for 5 decades, until "Norma" breaks through the secrets she has long felt her "parents" were keeping from her. This is a book by an own-voices author, someone who is part of a marginalized group, who is telling a story from their own perspective, not as an outsider. This is an outstanding book with the theme of family love, childhood trauma, and the persistence to find truth. 4.5 stars

Now we are moving on to books with much lighter themes!

Table For Two is a book by Amor Towles, one of my favorite authors. He wrote The Gentleman from Moscow, Rules of Civility, and The Lincoln Highway, all 5-star books for me. Table For Two is a collection of short stories. If you enjoy this author, I highly recommend you give this book a go. My favorite short story was "The Line", set in 1920's Moscow, where our main character Pushkin spends most of his time standing in line for necessities. At the end of the day, he may come home with a squash or a sausage or a loaf of bread after spending hours in line. He ultimately comes up with a scheme to stand in line for other people for a fee, vastly improving his quality of life. I will read anything this author writes and this did not disappoint. 4 stars 

Everyone is Beautiful by Katherine Center. This author is a hugely popular contemporary fiction/romance writer. Some of her more recent titles are The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, What You Wish For, and Things You Save in a Fire, all of which I loved.  This book is one of her earlier works before she made it big. Even though the author's skills developed further in later years, this book shows much of her style and talent. We follow Lainie Coates as she moves with her growing family from Houston to Cambridge, Massachusetts so her husband can pursue his dream of becoming a professional musician. Lainie has had three babies in as many years, has lost her sense of self, and gained more pounds than she'd like to admit. Lonely and adrift in her new apartment, mired in the details of childcare, Lainie hopes to regain some sense of her old self and achieve some dreams of her own, if she could only recall what they were. Lainie joins a gym, signs up for a photography class, and makes new friends, which may ultimately threaten the foundations of her marriage and the life she had planned. I really enjoyed reading this story of a young mom finding herself and discovering life outside of the diaper pail! 4 stars

The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up by Laura Pearson. Shelley Woodhouse wakes up in the hospital from a coma with one thought in her mind. Her abusive husband must be arrested for hurting her once again. Shelley remembers that aspect of her life, but has forgotten so much more. Her memories slowly start to return, but she is often very confused about the timeline of her life. And who is the friendly man who says he is a volunteer who visits her every day? There is a great flow to this book as we go from Shelley's childhood up through her current situation. I cottoned on to what was going on, but that didn't spoil the story for me at all. This is a sweet book that will tug at your heart. It may not be completely realistic, but it's a great story. 4 stars *Free on Kindle Unlimited right now

Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley is the story of Iona, a 57-year-old "magazine therapist" (advice columnist), who commutes on the train every day to her job in London. She always sits in the same seat, with her little dog Lulu by her side, observing her fellow commuters but never interacting with them. Even though she keeps to herself, she is prepared for any eventuality with a huge pocketbook that rivals Mary Poppins's. One day the man she has nicknamed "Smart But Sexist Manspreader" chokes on a grape and the stage is set for an unlikely group of commuters to get to know one another and make connections they never dreamed of. This is a heartwarming and funny reminder of how much we all need each other in our modern world. 4 stars

Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy is another feel-good book that will lift your spirits. After losing her husband and son, Helen Cartwright returns to the small English village where she grew up 60 years ago. She is a grief-stricken old woman who only wishes she could hurry up and die. Her life is a repetitive slog of boring days and the same old routines, "until one cold winter night, a chance encounter with a mouse sets Helen on a surprising journey". Ok, I'm in. If you like a book about second chances and proof that there is goodness in the world, this one is for you. 5 stars

Colton Gentry's Third Act by Jeff Zentner may be one of my top favorite books of the year. I LOVED this book. Colton Gentry is a country western singer whose life has gone off track. He had been riding high, with his career going in the right direction and in his marriage to one of the hottest acts in the country.  However, he recently lost his best friend Duane in a mass shooting incident at a music festival and has turned to alcohol for comfort. One night, fueled by Jim Beam and standing in front of a sold-out concert crowd, Colton lets loose his opinions on gun control to his country-western fans. This does not go over well at all. The result is that Colton is basically canceled. His agent drops him as does the recording company he is under contract to. His wife tells him she wants a divorce. Colton's life as he knows it is over, and he's broke. He has no choice but to move back home to Kentucky and live with his mom until he figures things out. This is the very best kind of "second chances" book, and I loved every page of it. This book is unusual in that it is in the romance genre, and was written by a man. Let me tell you, the author gets it very right. The book is laugh-out-loud funny and you will root for Colton to get his act together with all your heart. Oh, and there is also a dog named Petey in the book who will steal your affections too. The author very thoughtfully provides a footnote to the reader saying "Petey does not die in this book". 5 very enthusiastic stars

 

 

Comments

[Peggy Barcelona]

I can’t encourage you enough to read a calamity of souls by Harlan Coben. It is the best book I have read in years and I really think you’d enjoy it.

[Barbara Groeschell]

Thanks for the book recommendations. I always add to my list. I love the kindle unlimited books especially. I wish I could be as prolific a reader (and quilter) as you but I’m inspired to keep trying.